Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A great war-date letter, 6pp. 4to., written by "J. J. Smith", United States Military Railroad freight agent, Alpine, Tenn. Feb. 7, 1865 addressed to Brevet Brigadier General John Corson Smith as lieutenant colonel of the 96th Illinois Vols., in small part: "Your very kind favor of the 21st let. was received…while it tells of the loss of so many of your gallant heroes…and of hearts made sad by their fall, it brought…a relief that so many of those endeared to me still live…how changed are times now!…my aged father…I have not had a word since June 1863. I had a large family…from Ill. to Texas…in the beginning of the war, five nephews & one brother were in the Federal army, one half brother (forced) and three nephews in the Rebel army, several cousins in it & several fled north to keep out of it. Some have suffered in northern prisons, some in southern prisons…we of this age have fallen upon evil times…I have prayed for the South, for the North, for the whole country, that whatever might be…it might prove a blessing to mankind…in the beginning my mind was clouded now it is clear…the great blur upon our National escutcheon is to be erased with blood…the end…is reduced to a mere matter of time…I once said when that glorious day should come around I would feast on a fat pig or turkey, but alas they have all disappeared…how shall we celebrate the day?…we will come together…with…tattered stringy garments…the little ones follow their mothers…who…used to be so neat & clean…now with only one flimsy garment spilt into shreds…& a small cotton rag on her head…she says 'mother is the war done?'…all seem to cheer up…have an address or two. All get happy…well Col[onel]…I hope you will not let Harper's or Leslie see it [this letter] for they would picture that group…& some disguised Reb might kick up a mess at the meeting & spoil our good time…the A. Q. M…has assigned me to this place as Freight Agent to ship coal from the mines between Shell Mound & White Sides…to Bridgeport twice a week…". Near fine.
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